Washington D.C., Jun 4, 2015 / 06:21 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The wife of a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran pleaded with members of Congress to work for his release, while voicing the consolation they have found in their Christian faith. “For the ... Read more
Rome, Italy, Jun 4, 2015 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Since only one quarter of the media representatives present at last week's closed-door meeting of German, French, and Swiss bishops have reported on the meeting, speculation has arisen in Rome that the group is preparing to launch a media blitz in favor of controversial changes to pastoral care for homosexuals and the divorced and remarried in the final weeks leading up to the Synod on the Family. On May 25, bishops from Germany, Switzerland, and France met at the Pontifical Gregorian University to discuss the most contentious issues of the upcoming Synod on the Family, which include approval of gay unions and Communion for the divorced and remarried. Among the 50 participants were nine bishops, as well as numerous professors and priests, and media representatives. Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising gave the final remarks. Msgr. Markus Graulich, an official of the Roman Rota, and Marco Impagliazzo, president of the Sant'Egidio lay community, also participated. Though the meeting was secretive and held behind closed doors – some of the German, Swiss, and French bishops were not even informed of the conference – select representatives of media were allowed in. The publications represented at the conference, according to Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register, were Neue Zuercher Zeitung; ARD; ZDF; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; La Croix; La Repubblica; I-Media; and Vatican Radio's German edition. The director of Vatican Radio's German edition was a moderator, while only journalists from La Repubblica and I-Media in fact reported about the event. With most of the journalists not reporting on the event, their role has raised suspicions. A source within a committee of European bishops told CNA June 1 that “representatives of the media were certainly convoked in order to prepare a media platform to launch and spread contentious issues and lead the discussion.” Even though Cardinal Marx has claimed to have been in Rome in a private capacity and that the German bishops conference did not fund the initiative, another source in a Vatican congregation maintained that “the German journalists, at least, who came from abroad to Rome had their airfare and hotels paid for by the German bishops conference.” As the participants are not allowed to comment on the meeting, this data cannot be confirmed. However, the source said, “the German bishops conference certainly took its part in pushing the meeting.” According to the ‘European source’ “it is likely that this platform will issue some joint document, and I have heard they want to come out with a theological document in September, on the eve of the Synod and while Pope Francis will be visiting the United States.” Their aim is “to launch a discussion with only a short amount of time left for counter-responses.” However, the source in a Vatican congregation maintained that “as the news of the conference came out, other bishops have started to think about countering this meeting.” “The meeting seemed intended to push for something, and many bishops did not like it.” Read more
Olympia, Wash., Jun 4, 2015 / 12:24 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A florist has appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court to review court rulings that could cause her financial ruin because she declined to serve a same-sex wedding ceremony. Kristen Wagg... Read more
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jun 3, 2015 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis will find a country still suffering from ethnic and religious suspicion when he visits Bosnia and Herzegovina this weekend, but some hope that his visit will help e... Read more
Washington D.C., Jun 3, 2015 / 04:17 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Many religious believers will benefit from the Supreme Court’s Monday decision that a clothing store wrongly discriminated against a prospective employee whose Muslim beliefs required her to wear a hijab, one legal expert has said. “At a time when some are suggesting that religious faith and values should be confined to private prayer or houses of worship, today’s ruling is a welcome reminder that the free exercise of religion takes place every day, not just on holy days, and in all aspects of life, including work,” University of Notre Dame Law School professor Richard Garnett told CNA June 1. The case concerned Samantha Elauf, who had applied for a job with an Oklahoma store of the fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch. She wears a hijab headscarf for religious reasons and wore it to her job interview. Abercrombie has a no-headwear policy for its employees for fashion reasons. Elauf was denied the position because of her hijab. She never told the company her headdress was for religious reasons, and had not asked them for an accommodation at the time of the interview. However, in internal conversations both the store manager and district manager assumed she wore the headdress for religious reasons. Elauf filed suit claiming that the company discriminated against her for religious reasons. The Supreme Court sided with Elauf and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in its 8-1 ruling issued June 1. “An employer may not make an applicant’s religious practice, confirmed or otherwise, a factor in employment decisions,” said the court’s majority opinion, authored by Justice Antonin Scalia. The majority opinion, signed by seven justices, cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination by employers on basis of religion. They ruled that the act applies not just when an employer has knowledge of a candidate’s need for a religious accommodation, but also when their hiring decision is in any way motivated by the person’s need for an accommodation. The court majority said that an employer's hiring decision that is in any way motivated by a job candidate’s religious beliefs violates the law. “To prevail in a disparate-treatment claim, an applicant need show only that his need for an accommodation was a motivating factor in the employer’s decision, not that the employer had knowledge of his need,” the opinion stated. The court decision said that civil rights protections do not treat religious beliefs as neutral, but rather elevate them to a prioritized status of meriting “favored treatment.” Garnett said this aspect of the ruling is significant because it means further protections for religious practice against workplace requirements that might infringe upon it. He said the language is “a welcome and timely reminder of our longstanding commitment to protecting religious practices in the public sphere.” “Most of us, after all, spend much more time at work than we do in religious services, and the freedom of religion includes the freedom to integrate our faith into our daily lives,” added Garnett, who is an expert in freedom of religion and constitutional law. The case has broad implications for people of all faiths. It could apply to cases of Jewish or Christian job candidates who cannot work on Saturdays or Sundays for religious reasons and apply for a company requiring work hours on those days. The Supreme Court opinion cited the example of an employer who considers a job applicant who “may be an Orthodox Jew who will observe the Sabbath, and thus be unable to work on Saturdays.” If the employer desires to avoid making a religious accommodation, and this is a motivating factor in his employment decision, the employer would violate the law. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in the case, called the decision “historic” and a big win for religious freedom “when the American Muslim community is facing increased levels of Islamophobia.” “The Supreme Court rightly underscored that a job applicant’s religious beliefs and practices must play no role in an employer's hiring decision," said CAIR’s senior staff attorney William Burgess. Religious leaders of other faiths also came to Elauf’s defense, including Rev. Robert Schenck of Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capitol, a Christian outreach group serving Capitol Hill. “There is no constitutional right to fashion preferences. There is a Constitutional right to religious practice,” he said after oral arguments in February. “There is a higher level of scrutiny for that right than for someone’s fashion preference.” The June 1 ruling overturned the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that a company did not have to make religious accommodations for a prospective employee if it was not explicitly notified of the need first. A similar legal case in 2013 concerned a Burger King employee Ashanti McShan whose Pentecostal Christian faith motivated her to wear a skirt to work when the employee dress code prohibited skirts. Although she sought a religious accommodation, management told her she could not wear the skirt to work and she was fired from the company. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took up her case. The case ended in a settlement that required regional Burger King franchises to display a non-discrimination notice for employees. Read more
Vatican City, Jun 3, 2015 / 03:30 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis lamented the suffering inflicted on families already struggling from poverty in countries torn by the “great predator” of war. “Truly, war is the 'mother of all poverty,' the pontiff said Wednesday, addressing the crowds in Saint Peter’s Square. “War impoverishes the family,” he said. It is “a great predator of lives, of souls, and of the most sacred and precious loved ones.” Since late last year, Pope Francis has been centering his Wednesday catechesis on the theme of family as part of the lead-up to the World Day of Families in September, as well as October’s Synod of Bishops on the Family. Continuing with his June 3 catechesis, the Pope centered his address around the particular difficulties which many families face, especially with regard to poverty. He lamented the “misery” and “degradation” experienced by poor families inflicted by war, as well as those living in the peripheries. Nonetheless, there are families who “persevere with dignity” and trust in God’s goodness despite these challenges brought about by war and poverty, Pope Francis said. This does not “justify our indifference,” however: rather, it should “increase our shame of the fact that there is so much poverty!” The pontiff said we should be grateful to those families who save society by maintaining their integrity amid the challenges of poverty. “It is a miracle that even in extreme situations families continue to be formed and sustained,” he said, preserving the “special humanity of their relationships.” This is a point of irritation for those who consider family ties as secondary for the quality of life. “They understand nothing!” the Pope said. “Rather, we should fall to our knees in front of these families,” as they are a “true school of humanity which saves society from barbarism.” Pope Francis called for “a new civil ethics” which does not yield to blackmail, but reorganizes social ties in such a way as to prevent the “perverse spiral between family and poverty.” “Sadly, our modern economies often promote individual wellbeing at the expense of the family.” The Holy Father said it is not merely a question of food, but also of work, education, and health. We may be moved when we see images of malnourished and sick children. However, children understand that “man does not live by bread alone!” This also pertains to the family: “When there is misery, children suffer because they want love, family connections.” Pope Francis reminded Christians of their responsibility to “strengthen and support” families, especially those that are poor. He listed a series of factors which place a strain on the family and relationships: unemployment, dangerous working conditions, housing and transportation difficulties, reduced access to health and education. Added to these factors is the image of the “pseudo-model family” as presented by mass media, which is based on “the cult of appearance.” This, he said, “influences the poorest social class and increases the disregard for family connections.” Pope Francis called for the Church to live simply, both individually and institutionally, as it cares for families affected by poverty. “The Church, as a mother, can never be blind to the sufferings of her children,” he said. By living simply, we can “break down walls of division and overcome all difficulties, especially poverty,” he said. “A poorer Church will bear fruit for so many of her needy children.” He concluded by praying for commitment on the part of Christian families to helping the poor. Read more
Vatican City, Jun 3, 2015 / 01:33 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, revealed in a letter sent to a liturgical conference this week that when he was appointed to his post, Pope Francis indicated a desire to continue the liturgical work done by his predecessor as Bishop of Rome. “When the Holy Father, Pope Francis, asked me to accept the ministry of Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, I asked: ‘Your Holiness, how do you want me to exercise this ministry? What do you want me to do as Prefect of this Congregation?’ The Holy Father's reply was clear. ‘I want you to continue to implement the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council,’ he said, ‘and I want you to continue the good work in the liturgy begun by Pope Benedict XVI,'” Cardinal Sarah wrote in a letter to the Sacra Liturgia Conference, which was made public June 2. “My friends,” the cardinal wrote, “I want you to help me in this task.” The Sacra Liturgia Conference is held annually, and addresses the importance of liturgical formation within the Church. It is a proponent of the new evangelization, and supports liturgical catechesis of the faithful. Cardinal Sarah, who was appointed head of the CDW in November 2014, asked that Sacra Liturgia “continue to work towards achieving the liturgical aims of the Second Vatican Council and to work to continue the liturgical renewal promoted by Pope Benedict XVI.” He cited in particular the emeritus Pope's apostolic exhortation Sacramentum caritatis, on the Eucharist, and his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, which made it easier for all priests to celebrate the liturgy as it had been done prior to the reform which followed Vatican II. “In ask you to be wise, like the householder in St Matthew's Gospel, who knows when to bring out of his treasure thing both new and old, so that the Sacred Liturgy as it is celebrated and lived today may lose nothing of the estimable riches of the Church's liturgical tradition, whilst always being open to legitimate development.” The cardinal had noted earlier in his letter that “we must do everything we can to put the Sacred Liturgy back at the very heart of the relationship between God and man,” calling the liturgy the “privileged and unique form in which we … encounter God at work in our world.” Cardinal Sarah stated that the Sacra Liturgia conference, which runs June 1-4, has ample time to consider how to both maintain tradition and be open to legitimate developments, and then suggested “two critical areas in which authentic liturgical renewal in the twenty-first century can be furthered”: by making clear that liturgy is the worship of God, and by promoting “sound liturgical formation.” He urged that we “never underestimate” the importance of liturgy as worship of God, adding that “the liturgy is not some social occasion or meeting … where what is important is that we express our identity. No: God comes first.” Recalling that the liturgy “is given to us in tradition,” he added that “it is not for us to make up the rites we celebrate or to change them to suit ourselves … beyond the legitimate options permitted.” “That is why we must celebrate the Sacred Liturgy faithfully, with that reverence and awe of which I spoke earlier.” Turning to the importance of sound liturgical formation, Cardinal Sarah referred to the text of Sacrosanctum Concilium, Vatican II's constitution on the liturgy, and said that “we cannot truly participate in the Sacred Liturgy, we cannot drink deeply from the source of Christian life, if we have not been formed in the spirit and power of the liturgy … I hope and I pray that the different initiatives of Sacra Liturgia can do much to meet this urgent and crucial need.” In addition to making four references to the text of Sacrosanctum Concilium, Cardinal Sarah's letter also referred twice to non-papal writings of Benedict XVI, quoting from his Collected Works: The Theology of the Liturgy and The Spirit of the Liturgy. The Sacra Liturgia conference was launched in Rome in 2013, and has a different location each year – the 2016 conference will be held in London. The conference includes presentations of academic papers as well as the celebration of both Mass and Vespers, in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman rite. The 2015 conference includes an opening address by Cardinal Raymond Burke, and presentations on the importance of beauty in the liturgy. Other speakers include Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Dr. Lauren Pristas, Dr. Jennifer Donelson, Fr. Alcuin Reid, and Fr. Phillip Anderson, OSB. Read more
Philadelphia, Pa., Jun 3, 2015 / 12:46 pm (CNA).- Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will hold a Q&A session for young adults, taking questions on a wide range of topics. The June 4 event, titled “Chat with Chaput,” is... Read more
Baltimore, Md., Jun 3, 2015 / 12:29 pm (CNA).- Amid the resignation of a vice presidential employee in a same-sex civil marriage, Catholic Relief Services reiterated its commitment to both Catholic identity and respect for all people as children of God. Catholic Relief Services employee Rick Estridge worked at the agency for 16 years, most recently as Vice President for Overseas Finance. Estridge “held a technical finance position that did not involve mission-related decisions. Because of that, CRS did not require that position to be held by a Catholic, and Mr. Estridge is not Catholic,” said Catholic Relief Services June 3. “He entered into a same-sex civil marriage two years ago when doing so became legal in Maryland. Because of the stress this situation has caused Mr. Estridge and his family, he has made the decision to leave CRS.” According to public records from the Clerk of Circuit Court for the City of Baltimore, Maryland, published in April by the Lepanto Institute, Estridge entered into a civil same-sex marriage with his partner, William Gorestas on April 4, 2013. The institute said that Estridge had also been publicly championing gay marriage on his Facebook page, though both his LinkedIn and Facebook accounts were later disabled. Estridge announced June 3 that he had decided to resign from CRS. “This is the right decision for me, and I thank CRS' leadership for providing me with the space to make this determination during this difficult time,” he said in a public statement. “I continue to have full faith in CRS' leadership and the organization as a whole. I thank my team and the global finance community for their hard work and dedication and have every belief that they will continue to serve with excellence.” A Catholic Relief Services statement provided to CNA June 3 said that the agency “respects Mr. Estridge’s decision and thanks him for his service.” The organization emphasized that it has “close ties to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission.” CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. bishops' conference. “We are resolute in our commitment to the Church and all its teachings, and we work in countless ways to support marriage and family life,” the group stated. “Our Board of Directors and executives regularly review programs, policies and practices to ensure that these uphold our Catholic identity, as we remain true to our mission of caring for those in greatest need at the forefront of the Church’s engagement with the world.” Catholic Relief Services also expressed its “strong objection to these types of attacks and the tactics of the groups which launch them.” It noted that the critique published online had public broadcast Estridge’s home address. “As a Catholic agency, CRS is committed to treating all people with the respect and compassion they deserve as children of God,” the agency said. “We detest hurtful campaigns that do not build up, but undermine, individuals and Church agencies carrying out the mission of bringing the love of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering.” The Lepanto Institute and related groups have previously accused CRS of facilitating contraception in developing nations and advocating behavior contrary to Church teaching. The U.S. bishops have investigated and rejected these accusations on several occasions, stressing their confidence in the organization’s Catholic identity and the safeguards put in place to ensure that identity. Read more
Vatican City, Jun 3, 2015 / 10:32 am (CNA).- Pope Francis on Wednesday expressed his condolences to the people of China following a ferry capsizing earlier this week which claimed the lives of hundreds of people. “I wish to express my closenes... Read more
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